There was once a little old mule who was so poor that he barely had enough hay to eat. The only thing of value he had was a pile of comic strips that he had collected from the newspapers. The old mule loved his old comic strips, and read them every day. He had several friends who liked to read them too, but the mule was very protective of them.

One day a man came along, and saw the pile of comic strips in the old mule’s stall. “Come here, mule,” said the man. “Give me your comics and I will give you some hay.” But the mule would not.

The next day the man came back. “Come here, mule,” he said. “If you will give me your comics, I will give you a barn to sleep in.” But the mule would not.

Finally the man hit upon a plan. “Come here, mule,” he said, “if you give me your comics, I will give you a lifetime subscription to a newspaper.” And the mule’s ears perked up. And he gave the man the comics.

But when the newspaper came, the mule realized that he had been tricked. For the newspaper which came in his mailbox was the Budget. And the Budget does not have comics.

Now, you discerning readers must be wondering exactly what my point is in telling you this story. Before you begin to write angry comments about my mockery of the Amish tradition of not having comics in the Budget, let me put your minds at ease.

For you see, the mule had learned a lesson that all good Beachy’s must learn, if they are to succeed in business. Namely this,

A Mule and his Funnies are easily parted.

Regards,
HBB